Consultancy Service

TERM OF REFERENCE

CONSULTANCY SERVICE FOR ASSESSMENT OF ASSITIVE PRODUCTS

Overview

The International Center (formerly known as Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation -VVAF) is an America non-profit organization based in Washington, DC. IC-VVAF established a representative office in Hanoi in 1994, and has been active in humanitarian assistance programs and development asistance continuously since that time. IC-VVAF has also addressed the consequences of war through advocacy and service programs in Vietnam for the last three decades. As a cofounder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, IC-VVAF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. Now working under The International Center, IC, focuses on disability support, mine action, and mental health programs.

The Moving Without Limits Project

Under the financial support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), IC is implementing the Disability Support Project named “Moving without Limits” in the three provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh from July 2015 until September 2022. This project aims to improve the accessibility of the people with mobility impairments in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, and Binh Dinh to quality and affordable assistive devices.

Three specific objectives of the project include:

Improved availability of quality assistive technologies/ devices (AT/AD) for people with mobility impairments in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh provinces;
Improved capacity related to AT/AD for the health sector workforce at national and sub-national levels; and
Improved advocacy for policies/regulations and information sharing related to AT/AD.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, a wide range of activities will be implemented in the three project provinces as well as at the central level. AT/AD service provision is implemented following the the relevant steps to service delivery, this includes need assessment and prescription, AD procurement, fitting, user training and follow-up, maintenance and repair. These steps in service delivery are required in order to ensure that people with mobility disabilities receive appropriate and quality AD. The project also promotes the integration of health care for people with disabilities, which includes AT/AD service delivery into the existing health care system, and mobilizing non-specialists at the community levels to recognize, assess, manage and follow-up of care for people with disabilities.

To ensure the quality of AT/AD provided to people with disabilities, it is recommended that assessement on assistive products of the project and in the current market are needed. Thus IC is looking for consultancy service to do this.

1. DUTY STATION

Duty Station: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and 3 project provinces Quang Nam, Thua Thien Hue and Binh Dinh

Duration of Assignment: June-August 2021

2. OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

To review the current assistive products/ devices provided to PWMDs from Moving Without Limit Project (Project)
To propose the modification/ adjustment of the groups of products at field level.
To survey the current existing assistive products/ devices for PWMDs in the markets

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will carry out the following activities, based on the project result framework, in collaboration with relevant project staff.

To review the current assistive products/ devices (APs) provided to PWMDs from Moving Without Limit Project (Project)
- Develop checklist(s)/ form(s) to evaluate the current mobility assistive products/ devices provided to PWMDs with the groups of criteria such as: appearance, material, functioning, convienient and safety in utility … in order to go to the conclusion on the device strength/weaknes that need to be modified
- Provide a plan for home visit to PWDs in 3 project provinces according to the list of PWDs provided by the project and partners
- Conduct home visit to selected PWMDs to review the project provided APs
- Report on the situation of the current mobility Aps and give the recommendation for device modification to make them safer and better functioning.
To propose the modification/ adjustment of the groups of products at field level.
- Set the criterias to select appropriate fixing agencies for mobility device modification/fixing at diferent levels based on the level of problems.
- Develop a training materials on mobility APs provided by the project
- Provide training to the local shops/ mechanic staff at 3 provinces from commune to district level as well as provincial SMEs if needed
- Cooperate with relevant fixing agency to modify the products as much as possible before deliver.
To survey the current existing assistive products/ devices for PWMDs in the market
- Conduct a market survey on mobility AT and ADL devices existing in the market
- Make a catalog on that to provide for AT unit

4. DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME

It is expected that the work can be done from June – August 2021.

Task	Deliverables	Number of working days
To review the current assistive products/ devices (APs) provided to PWMDs from Moving Without Limit Project (Project)
Develop checklist(s)/ form(s) to evaluate the current mobility assistive products/ devices provided to PWMDs with the groups of criteria such as: appearance, material, functioning, convienient and safety in utility … in order to go to the conclusion on the device strength/weaknes that need to be modified	Checklist(s)/ form(s) to evaluate the current assistive products/ devices provided to PWMDs with the groups of criteria
Provide a plan for home visit to PWDs in 3 project provinces according to the list of PWDs provided by the project and partners	Plan for home visit to PWDs in 3 project provinces according to the list of PWDs provided by the project and partners
Conduct home visit to selected PWMDs to review the project provided APs	Home visit to PWDs in 3 project provinces conducted
Report on the situation of the current mobility Aps and give the recommendation for device modification to make them safer and better functioning.	Report on the situation of the current APs
To propose the modification/ adjustment of the groups of products at field level.
Set the criterias to select appropriate fixing agencies for mobility device modification/fixing at diferent levels based on the level of problems.	Criterias to select appropriate fixing agencies for mobility device modification/fixing at diferent levels based on the level of problems
Develop a training materials on mobility APs provided by the project	Training materials on mobility APs provided by the project
Provide training to the local shops/ mechanic staff at 3 provinces from commune to district level as well as provincial SMEs if needed	Training to the local shops/ mechanic staff at 3 provinces from commune to district level as well as provincial SMEs if needed
Cooperate with relevant fixing agency to modify the products as much as possible before deliver	Collaboration minutes with relevant fixing agencies to modify the products as much as possible before deliver
To survey the current existing assistive products/ devices for PWMDs in the market
Conduct a market survey on mobility AT and ADL devices existing in the market	Report on market survey on mobility AT and ADL devices existing in the market
Make a catalog on that to provide for AT unit	Catalog on APs to provide for AT unit
Total Number of Days

5. Supervision and performance evaluation

The Consultatn will work under the direct supervision and evaluation of the Program Director with support from project staff.

6. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications required:

Engineer in mechanics, autonomy, technology fields, medical products.

Experience required: Minimum three years relevant experience and products assesment especially in assistive products/ devices.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge: Skills required include broad knowledge of assistive products/ devices, medical products, bio-mechanics devices and technique; ability to conduct product assessment in field sites and ability to coordinate with internal and assigned external partners.

Language requirements: Written documents submitted in Vietnamese.

7. COMPETENCIES

Teamwork, professionalism, flexibility and an understanding of working with people from diverse backgrounds.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Individual/ group of individuals/ firm interested in this job are invited to submit your CVs in English, including references, either by email (to icvietnam@theintlcenter.org ) or by post (to The International Center, R.103-203, B3 Building, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam).

Please state “Application for the [Position]…” in the subject line or on the envelope. The short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Deadline for submission: by 22^nd June 2021.
For application submission, please contact: Ms. Hua Thi Thu Len – Receptionist Tel: (84-24) 3733 9444, ext: 9 Email: icvietnam@theintlcenter.org For technical aspects, please contact:
Ms. Nguyen Khanh Hang – Project Officer Tel: (84-24) 3733 9444, ext: 108 Email: nguyenhang@theintlcenter.org